Aras Rudzianskas Died Saving Friend David Radut in River Tyne
On a sunny afternoon in May 2024, a group of teenagers from Newcastle headed to the River Tyne near Ovingham in Northumberland for what should have been a fun day out. They found a rope swing hanging over the water and took turns launching themselves out and back again. What began as ordinary teenage play ended in tragedy when two close friends, 13-year-old Aras Rudzianskas and 14-year-old David Radut, both lost their lives.
The Rope Swing Incident
Around 3:30 p.m. on May 18, 2024, roughly 20 young people had gathered near Ovingham Bridge. David Radut, who could not swim, took his turn on the rope. On his second attempt he let go too early and dropped into a deeper section of the river. He immediately began to panic and thrash in the water.
Without hesitation, Aras Rudzianskas jumped in after him. Witnesses later told the inquest that Aras entered the water purely to help his friend. David’s desperate movements pulled Aras under as well. Other boys tried to help but found themselves in danger and had to retreat to the bank. The strong current quickly carried both teenagers downstream.
A paddleboarder named Fiona Matthews spotted Aras floating face-down. She pulled him from the water and began CPR. Emergency services arrived and continued resuscitation efforts. Aras was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle, where he fought for three days before dying on May 21. Search teams recovered David’s body that same evening, 21 meters downstream from the rope swing. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Coroner’s Powerful Tribute
At the inquest held in 2026, Assistant Coroner Paul Dunn delivered a moving assessment of Aras’s actions. He described the 13-year-old’s decision to enter the water as “one of the bravest acts” he had encountered in 20 years as a coroner. Dunn said Aras went in “without a thought” for his own safety and gave “the ultimate sacrifice selflessly.” If the law allowed a formal conclusion of “bravery,” the coroner stated he would have recorded it without hesitation.
The court recorded David’s death as accidental. For Aras, the coroner issued a narrative conclusion stating he died from the effects of drowning while attempting to save his friend’s life. Dunn also noted that both boys were likely beyond saving within seconds of entering the fast-moving river.
Safety Concerns Raised
The inquest examined why the stretch of river remained so dangerous. Two years earlier, in 2022, another 13-year-old boy had drowned in the same area. Despite that earlier death, authorities had not installed proper warning signs or safety equipment on the north bank where the boys entered the water. Permission for signs had been granted only weeks before the 2024 tragedy, but the equipment was not yet in place.
The coroner criticized the delay and issued prevention of future deaths reports calling for better coordination between landowners and emergency services. Additional signs and rescue equipment were eventually installed after Aras and David died.
A Community in Mourning
Both boys came from Newcastle. Families and friends described them as kind, happy young people. Aras’s mother later spoke of her son as a gentle boy who always tried to help others. Fundraising campaigns raised thousands of pounds to support the families with funeral costs. Vigils and memorials took place in the weeks that followed, and a year later relatives placed a plaque near the river to honor Aras and discourage others from entering the water there.
The story of Aras Rudzianskas continues to move people because it captures pure, selfless courage in a child. A 13-year-old saw his friend in trouble and acted instantly, paying the highest price. His bravery stands as a powerful reminder of both the dangers of open water and the extraordinary capacity for heroism that can exist even in the youngest hearts.
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